Skoda Kodiaq and Karoq tested in the real world

Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq is indeed much roomier than the Skoda Karoq. Its three fold-down child seats with safety ears are in use, and the seven-seater can accommodate even more people. What do other people carry in a car that size? Cycles? I fit in. woodpile? I fit in. The trunk can hold anywhere from 650 to 2065 liters.

Since its debut on the market in 2017, the Skoda Kodiaq has been a success. It's easy to see why, as everything about the vehicle, from its cabin to its performance, is a delight. We had three young children in the car, so the test vehicle's 200-horsepower wasn't strictly necessary for our driving style. They weren't an error, though. The Skoda's largest passenger car handles as if on rails, and its massive size is barely noticeable as you cruise along.

The Skoda Kodiaq provides a high level of convenience with the premium features we were able to test. But there's a price to pay for that, too. To get your hands on our test vehicle—a Skoda Kodiaq 4x4 Sportline TDI 7-speed DSG with 190 hp—you'll need to pay over 70,230 Euros.

From January through June of 2022, Skoda was the second most popular car brand in terms of new registrations.

Skoda Karoq

Let's talk about the smaller Skoda Karoq: we booked a 10-day trip for the newly released Skoda Karoq to a lake in Austria so that it could relax and enjoy the scenery. Because of the limited storage space in the SUV, we had to be more strategic about what we brought along. The whole family of five showed up, pulling wagons, baby carriages, and suitcases.

The trunk was arranged using Tetris logic, with bags stuffed under the children's feet and an adult wedged between the child seats, but the shelf was discarded. After all, there's room for 521 liters of cargo in the trunk and 1,630 liters with the rear seat bench folded flat.

For a limited time only, anything is possible. After three hours, the person who must sit between the spacious car seats for the kids in the back will begin to experience discomfort in their legs, back, and other body parts. Taking out one person makes a potentially tricky situation appear less so. Our test vehicle was surprisingly fuel efficient, especially given its 190 hp and permanent four-wheel drive. We averaged 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers while traveling on the highway.

So, the Skoda Karoq is adequate if you don't travel frequently or very far with a group of five people. There's more laughter in a Skoda Kodiaq full of five people.